Kick Off
Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week
Photo courtesy of GHSC.
Current State of Affairs – Grain Safety
INCREASE in grain entrapments from 2023 to 2024.
%
of entanglements were fatal in 2024.
# of dust explosions in grain facilities over 2 years (2023-2024). Nine (9) per year.
Ladder violations have been on OSHA’s top 10 list for 15 years straight! (2010-2025)
Join Us for the 2026 Kick-Off Event!
The Kick Off is a hybrid (in-person & virtual) event to highlight the importance of participating in Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week and the benefits received from this national, industry wide focus on safety. We ALL have a piece in ensuring our workers go home safely at the end of every work day!
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026
10:00 AM – Noon (CDT)
Join us for the 2026 Kick Off Event livestreamed from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!
The 2026 Kick Off event is hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois.
Kick off the 2026 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week with a BANG! Climb the knowledge ladder with live-wire Moderator John Caupert and get caught up in the excitement!
Don’t forget to check out the FREE educational and promotional resources below and on the resource page to make the most of your Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.
Kick Off Details
Welcome to the University of Illinois Feed Technology Center—where innovation meets impact in animal nutrition and feed science. Whether you’re joining us in person or remotely, we’re thrilled to host you at our cutting-edge $20-million facility located at South Farms. As a global leader in research, teaching, and industry collaboration, we invite you to explore the future of feed technology through hands-on demonstrations and expert-led discussions.
Grain Dust Explosion Chamber – Dave Newcomb
Join us for a powerful demonstration on grain dust explosions, highlighting the science behind ignition risks and the critical importance of dust control in feed and grain facilities. This demonstration underscores real-world hazards and showcases mitigation strategies to protect workers and infrastructure.
Machine Guarding – John Lee
Explore the intersection of safety and automation in our machine guarding demonstration. From traditional guards to advanced sensor systems on feed fillers, we’ll showcase how to protect operators while maintaining operational efficiency in modern feed manufacturing environments.
Ladder Safety – Daniel Gaither
Not all ladders are created equal. This demonstration will cover the types of ladders—fixed and movable—their appropriate uses, and common pitfalls. We’ll share practical recommendations and examples of unsafe ladder setups to help you make informed safety decisions.
Electrical Safety – John Lee & Daniel Gaither
This demonstration features common but dangerous electrical safety hazards found in agricultural and industrial settings. The examples illustrate how shortcuts, makeshift repairs and neglect can lead to fire hazards, electrocution risks, and equipment damage. By spotlighting these unsafe practices, the goal is to reinforce the importance of inspections, training, and adherence to electrical codes.
Helpful Tip
Register once! Select the virtual session(s) you want to attend during registration. You will be sent a private link. Use the same link for all sessions including spanish language sessions.
University of Illinois Feed Technology Center
Facility Address
4495 S Race St, Urbana, IL 61802
Meet Our Kick Off Moderator & Presenters!
Moderator - John Caupert
Executive Director - Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)
Presenter - Daniel Gaither
Director of Safety, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of ACES
John Caupert grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Southern Illinois. After obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness Economics and his Master’s Degree in Agribusiness Policy, John embarked on his career in both for profit and nonprofit agribusiness. John has more than three decades of experience in the agriculture and biorenewables industries. Under John’s leadership as Executive Director of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center, he directed the commercialization of more than 80 technologies into the commercial marketplace. In December 2023, John was named Executive Director of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), where he provides leadership and direction, while guiding the international activities and events of the member driven GEAPS organization and the GEAPS Media Group.
Daniel Gaither is the Director of Safety for the College of ACES at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, where he has supported research, teaching, and farm operations. He holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering Technology and Management for Agricultural Systems. A Certified Safety Professional, Daniel brings prior industry experience as an Environmental Health & Safety Manager and has held leadership roles with Safe Electricity, the Grain Handling Safety Coalition, GEAPS, and the Champaign County Farm Bureau Young Ag Leaders.
Presenter - John Lee
Director of the Safety-Health-Environmental Services (SHES), Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI)
Presenter - Dave Newcomb
Ag Rescue Program Manager, Illinois Fire Services Institute (IFSI) / Retired FD Lieutenant
John has served as the Director of the Safety-Health-Environmental Services (SHES) program for the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI) since 1997. The SHES program is a consulting and educational program for GFAI members serving small private grain elevators, cooperative elevators and large global grain companies. John works with state and federal OSHA, EPA, and DOT offices for the benefit of the grain and feed industry in Illinois. He conducts employee safety training, assists members in maintaining safety programs, conducts safety audits and visible emissions tests, and assists members with OSHA compliance and investigations. John has initated Alliance agreements with OSHA region 5 and assisted OSHA with investigator training for the local LEP for grain operations. He worked extensively with the Asmark Institute to design and build the grain training center and programs at the Agricenter in Bloomington, Illinois. He has developed several grain safety curriculum modules and also written and directed several safety videos. Additionally, John conducts safety programs for area grade schools. An industry favorite, known for his extensive knowledge and real-life stories, John trains for GFAI, the Agricenter, GHSC. and others upon request. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety from Illinois State University and previously worked as a Loss Control Representative for Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance.
Dave Newcomb has been associated with IFSI since 1987 and has taught more than 200 classes. In 2011, Dave was advanced to Ag Rescue Program Manager and has overseen its growth with additional classes and topics and an expansion of on-site training in grain bin rescue. Dave developed, ushered the approval of, and secured initial grant funding for a hybrid grain bin rescue course, expanding opportunities for rural, volunteer fire departments to receive this training. He is a regular spokesperson on agricultural rescue training and has made numerous presentations and participated in numerous media interviews. In 2013, Dave was instrumental in bringing Large Animal Rescue Awareness Training to IFSI. He is certified at the Technician level in Trench Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Rope Rescue and Structural Collapse Rescue.
Dave began his fire service career in 1976 with the Edge Scott Fire Protection District in Urbana. He joined the Urbana Fire Department in 1980 and in 1992 was promoted to Lieutenant. During his time at Urbana, Dave was an Emergency Medical Technician and served on the committee that formed Urbana’s Technical Rescue Team. He retired from the Urbana department in 2011 after a total of 35 years in the fire service.
Besides serving as an instructor and Program Manager for IFSI, Dave is active in farming nearly 2,200 acres of corn and soybeans in Central Illinois.
2026 Stand Up Resources
See the Resource Page for Planning & Promotion Resources
Resource Key
Information
Guidance documents, background information, etc.
Video
Accompany with a tool box talk, discussion, or hazard awareness activity.
What is a Safety Stand Up?
Be sure to adjust any Stand Up to accommodate the current social distancing guidelines as set forth by the federal government and the state in which you reside.
2026 Kickoff Resources
more resources can be found under the Resource Tab
Resource Key
Graphics
Infographics, artwork, pictures etc. for promotional materials & events.
Handouts
Take home document, rack card, brochure, etc. with extra information.
Information
Guidance documents, background information, etc.
Toolbox Talks
Ready to use toolbox talks for a Stand Up training event.
Video
Accompany with a tool box talk, discussion, or hazard awareness activity.